32 REV. MR. PEABODY'S REPORT. April, 



To say that they are almost gone, is speaking comparatively : for, 

 though their present numbers are nothing compared with former 

 times, many are yet to be found. The water birds, which can 

 retreat from persecution, are less wasted than the rest. The land 

 birds are emigrating fast to securer regions. But the wild turkey, 

 thought by many to be extinct in the Atlantic states, is found every 

 year on the Holyoke range near Connecticut river, and other moun- 

 tains at the west. The Pinuated grous, formerly so common that 

 domestics stipulated not to be fed with it too often, is met with in 

 small numbers in Martha's Vineyard. The ruffed grous, one of the 

 greatest luxuries of the table, is sold in all our markets ; and the 

 quail is abundant in our woods. 



Still the time is not distant when they must yield to the law of na- 

 ture. The only chance to preserve them is, to change their habits by 

 domestication, which in some instances is done with success. The 

 Canada goose, the mallard, and some other birds of passage, have 

 been tamed without difficulty ; and many others, like the beautiful 

 summer duck, which it has not been thought worth while to tame, 

 will doubtless become dependent on human care. The quail and 

 grous are perhaps too vagrant in their habits ; but careful and perse- 

 vering effort may succeed, even where many attempts have been 

 made in vain. 



But a more important object of the survey is to ascertain, with 

 respect to many birds which man pursues with unrelenting vengeance, 

 whether they are really as injurious as is commonly supposed. The 

 crow, the grakles, and other birds of that description, do certainly 

 make havoc with the corn. The cedar birds, robins, cat-birds, and 

 others make large demands upon the garden ; but it is certain that 

 the grubs which they devour, would, if suffered to live, destroy all 

 the promise of the year ; and while we have nothing but the birds to 

 protect us from these destroyers, there are some means already 

 known, and many others will be discovered, to prevent the birds 

 from taking more than their share. 



If any one will consider the subject, he will see, that insects 

 are by far the most formidable enemy man has to contend with. 

 The moscheto, for example, occasions far more suffering, and is ac- 

 tually more feared than the lion. Other enemies, equally contempti- 



